Martin Devlin says he did nothing wrong, but other passengers say he made a scene and was abusive. Photo / Dean Purcell
Broadcaster Martin Devlin has accused an air hostess of over-reacting after an incident that resulted in him being escorted off a plane by police.
Fog forced Devlin's flight to Auckland yesterday to circle for an hour, and witnesses said he made a scene and was abusive after it was diverted
back to Wellington.
Devlin, 46, said he had only commented about the flight delay and asked if the Jetstar plane had equipment to fly in foggy conditions.
"Nothing happened," he told TVNZ." I was one of many passengers who wanted to know what was going on. We had been up in the air for hours. The stewardess over-reacted."
He said that after speaking to the stewardess he returned to his seat.
Police arrived and asked him to leave the plane, which he did voluntarily.
The flight, JQ262, was to have arrived in Auckland at 9.25am.
A Jetstar spokeswoman said there was "just the one" passenger who had caused trouble.
"We did arrange for police to meet the aircraft for that particular passenger, but it's been a challenging morning."
Jetstar had expected the fog to clear, "but unfortunately that didn't happen so we had to go back to Wellington," she said.
A person who was on the plane said that when passengers were later let back on the plane, Devlin did not return.
On the diverted flight, Devlin had been abusive toward an air hostess and was making a scene, the passenger said.
Police said no charges had been laid.
Devlin was to have attended the International Rugby Legends Gala Dinner at Auckland's SkyCity last night, but he pulled out at the last minute.
One of the organisers of the gala dinner, David Higgins, said: "Martin voluntarily stood down so the focus could be on the charity and the speakers. Good on him."
In December, Devlin was charged after an incident on Quay St, Auckland, in which he jumped on to the bonnet of his wife's car.
He has since completed police diversion, which is available to first-time offenders who face minor charges, leading to the charge being dropped.
More than 50 international and domestic flights were delayed or cancelled yesterday because of fog.
